Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Flu Vaccinations
The medical community seems divided about the appropriateness of flu shots. While some research has shown that these immunizations may be beneficial for the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals, other research suggests that these shots are mostly ineffective. According to Richard Jedelsohn, MD, Associate Chairman of the New York State Immunization Advisory Council, 30% of these vaccines are not effective. In higher-risk groups, which include the people who are most in need of protection, flu and pneumonia vaccines are 50-60% ineffective. Doctors see many patients with the flu who have had their flu shot.
{Let’s Live magazine, by the Editor, Jan. 2000}
The FDA estimates that less than 10% of physicians report vaccine adverse effects, so when we are told that the benefits of a flu vaccination outweigh the risks, no one knows what the true risks are.
Congress and the American taxpayer have been defrauded about the alleged advantages of flu shots. Instead of being an effective prevention, evidence indicates that flu shots may be worthless. The benefit is for those who make money from them.
{“Flu shots? Do they really Work?” Dr. Kristine Severyn, RPh, PhD, founder and Director of Vaccine Policy Institute}
“I have heard from people who did get their flu shots and they still have come down with influenza, really feeling bad, having headaches and fever, and muscle aches,” says Joe Graedon. Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the Health Research Group advised not to use the new flu drugs because they are not effective. There are some reports that pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, may increase viral replication.
{“People’s Pharmacy,” Jan. 22, 2000. Public Radio}
The influenza shot prevents the flu in only about 30 to 40% of the elderly population. In fact, getting vaccinated could give these people a false sense of protection, which might lead them to be less cautious. The flu shot does not protect a person from getting a host of other upper-respiratory-tract infections that also commonly circulate during the winter season. Although the CDC claims the flu vaccine is safe, a large body of anecdotal evidence shows a link between the flu shot and Guillain-Barre syndrome (which causes muscle weakness, pain and paralysis). It often takes weeks after any vaccination for disorders to become apparent.
{“Shots in the Dark,” Natural Health magazine, Nov./Dec. 1999}
The Wall Street Journal suggested that there isn't as much flu as there is advertising about the flu. Some doctors think it is less a matter of medicine than of marketing, and consumer groups say it’s all hype. They argue that the new drugs are expensive and they don't even work very well. Dr. Sydney Wolfe says the drug companies are inflaming people’s worries about the flu in order to sell their drugs. Doctors agree that the flu is serious, but some say the drug companys' campaign has reached epidemic proportions.
{“Flu Epidemic May Be Just a Flu Advertisement,” ‘Outrage of the Month,’ Public Citizen’s Health Letter. Taken from ABC World News Tonight story on Jan.11, 2000, with Peter Jennings and Ned Potter}
In the 1976 ‘Swine Flu Fiasco,’ medical officers warned that the ‘swine flu’ would be one of the worst epidemics in medical history, and millions of dollars were appropriated by Congress to develop and administer a vaccine to prepare for this ‘killer flu.’ Only a total of six cases were reported, but the ‘swine flu’ vaccine reportedly caused 565 cases of Guillain-Barre paralysis, 30 to 60 deaths and numerous other problems, including blindness and impotency. Although improvements have been made in flu vaccines since 1976, any and all flu vaccines are capable of causing Guillain-Barre.
Leon Chaitow in his book, “Vaccinations and Immunizations: Dangers, Delusions and Alternatives,” says that there is strong evidence to link vaccines with allergies. For example, those adults receiving flu immunizations have shown a worsening of allergic symptoms. In one survey this occurred in six out of every seven people who were immunized, as well as a worsening of other symptoms. Chaitow also explains the “Provocation Disease,” in which a vaccination against one disease leaves the body more susceptible to another disease. This occurs when there is a latent or incubating infection already present.
{“Vaccinations - Deception and Tragedy,” Michael Dye. 1999}
An article in ‘The Lancet,’ on “Vaccination and the control of influenza,” described the effect of influenza vaccination on staff in the Post Office. After comparing absences due to sicknesses in over 50,000 employees in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, it was concluded that the flu shots did not result in a significant reduction in flu. The effectiveness levels of flu vaccine can be down as low as 30%. Ever since the flu vaccine was introduced, published reports of ineffectiveness and adverse reactions, including deaths, were filling medical journals. Mass influenza immunization programs, instead of protecting, actually predispose many people to the disease and made them susceptible through the process of desensitization to serious, and indeed, fatal outcomes.
Legionnaires’ Disease outbreaks (even in different parts of the U.S.) coincide with flu vaccine injections.
{“Vaccination - 100 years of Orthodox Research shows that Vaccines Represent A Medical Assault on the Immune System,” by Viera Scheibner, PhD 1993}
Researchers have identified a lowering of the body’s resistance resulting from vaccinations.
{“Vaccines: Are they really safe and effective?” Neil Miller. 1995}
Some suggestions :
- Before you have a vaccination find out what is in the vaccine and the process it must go through. Some vaccines contain carcinogens or other toxic substances.
- Check your PDR (Physicians Desk Reference, usually found at pharmacies and some bookstores) and realize that many doctors either do not tell you of the risks you are taking, or minimize the dangers (such as telling you the only risks from the shot is soreness or a little fever).
- Remember those who stand to profit from vaccination programs discourage opposition and are using their clout to convince the public to participate in ‘getting their shots.’ Although there are those who use fear and intimidation to convince the public that we would be worse without the vaccinations, there are a growing number who now oppose vaccines because of the harm done and the fact that there hasn't been enough research. Anti-vaccine articles are almost impossible to get published.
- Educate yourself so you can make responsible and informed choices about whether to be vaccinated or not. Vaccination programs are being forced on us by state legislatures (who are listening to medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies), and we are having our freedom of choice taken away! Become involved and help change the laws. To follow the dictates of one group is tyranny and we are a part of it if we do not oppose it.
- Since immunizations often are not very effective, both the immunized and those who do not choose to be immunized, can use preventive methods like washing hands several times a day with soap and water, washing dishes in very hot water, keeping kitchen surfaces and common areas clean, eating good diets with plenty of fruits and vegetables, supplementing with vitamins/minerals/herbs to build up immunity, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
Note: for those who choose immunization, or immunization is mandatory, studies have shown vitamin C reduces side effects, and being under the care of a Homeopathic physician before getting the inoculations can minimize or eliminate the harmful side effects).
Facts of interest to remember:
- Infectious diseases declined dramatically before immunizations.
- Biological matter that is injected into our bodies can change our genetic makeup.
- Vaccinations, by introducing viruses into the blood stream, do not prevent disease but actually push the disease into a chronic form, deeper into the body where it attacks vital organs. Various elements in vaccines can stay in the body for long periods of time, some of them permanently. This provokes a constant effort to expel these foreign substances, leading to a systematic weakening of the immune system. The result is cancer and autoimmune diseases. It also results in a predisposition to sensitization.
- Vaccinations can weaken the immune system as much as from 30 to 70% of its total immunological reserve, while the body experiencing a disease would only use 2 to 7% while fighting a specific virus.
- Stress reduces the effectiveness of viral vaccines, such as the influenza vaccine, by interfering with the immune response.
{from the Nov./Dec. issue of Psychosomatic Medicine in Washington Post Health, Dec. 19, 2000}- There are many medical personnel who refuse vaccinations for themselves and their families because of the risks. This makes a powerful statement.
According to Hugh Fudenberg, MD, the world's leading immunogeneticist and 13th most quoted biologist of our times (nearly 850 papers in peer review journals):
If an individual has had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied) his/her chance of getting Alzheimer's Disease is 10 times higher than if he/she had one, two or no shots. Dr. Fudenberg said it was due to mercury and aluminum that is in every flu shot (and most childhood shots). The gradual mercury and aluminum buildup in the brain causes cognitive dysfunction.
{www.ithyroid.com - 2002}
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